What is Geography and why does it matter anyway? Summer reading for Year 12s

Teachers use this post exam period for their Year 12 sets in various ways; many decide to begin the A2 course with a view to picking up where they left off once term begins again in September. Some will set written work to do over the summer break but whatever you decide to do, encouraging your students to read around the subject is a good idea. The book Why Geography Matters More Than Ever by Harm de Blij (2012, OUP USA) is an excellent book to recommend to anyone studying Geography in the Sixth Form; it is certainly one for your school library.

I would say the first chapter is a must for all A2 geographers, but it would be particularly useful for any student wishing to pursue the subject at university. It addresses the all-important question “What is Geography” (to which, he highlights, there is no “snappy answer”), charts the rise, fall and resurgence of the subject in academia and tells amusing anecdotes relating to the trouble one can get into if “geographically illiterate”. At A2 for the AQA specification, mark schemes emphasize the importance of thinking like a geographer; reading at least the first chapter of this book will help students to understand what this means. Fundamental themes are discussed in an accessible and unpretentious way.

The other chapter titles include:

• - Reading maps and facing threats
• - Geography and demography
• - Geography and climate change
• - Africa in a globalizing world

The author has a website through which you can access his blog which may be of interest; it also contains a full biography.

I found this opening chapter informative, useful and inspiring; it would be interesting to find out what your students think.